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Synonyms:
Examples:
- - But ranges from the faintest contrast to absolute negation; as, I am willing to go, but ( on the other hand) content to stay; he is not an honest man, but ( on the contrary) a villain. The contrast may be with a silent thought; as, but let us go ( it being understood that we might stay longer). In restrictive use, except and excepting are slightly more emphatic than but; we say, no injury but a scratch; or, no injury except some painful bruises. Such expressions as " words are but breath" ( nothing but) may be referred to the restrictive use by ellipsis. So may the use of but in the sense of unless; as, " it never rains but it pours." To the same head must be referred the conditional use; as, " you may go, but with your father's consent" ( i. e., " provided you have," " except that you must have," etc.). " Doubt but" is now less used than the more logical " doubt that." But never becomes a full synonym for and; and adds something like, but adds something different; " brave and tender" implies that tenderness is natural to the brave; " brave but tender" implies that bravery and tenderness are rarely combined. For the concessive use, compare NOTWITHSTANDING.
